Akıncı was the light cavalry division of the Ottoman Army. They were one of the first divisions to face the opposing military and were known for their prowess in battle. They would basically hit the enemy with arrows. When attacked in melee, they would retreat while still shooting backwards. They could easily outrun heavy cavalry because they were lightly armed and their horses were bred for speed as opposed to strength. Akinci forces carried swords also, so that in a field war, they could face the enemy first and fight melee. Akinci forces were led by certain families. Best known akıncı families were Malkoçoğlu,Turhanlı and Mihalli. Cavalry is also a common misspelling of the Biblical hill Calvary. ... This article details the military of the Ottoman Empire. ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to fifteen thousand soldiers. ...